Prevent Cart Abandonment "Just Before"! 4 Shopify Exit Prevention Measures to Implement Immediately

"Despite successfully attracting visitors to your e-commerce site, why aren't sales increasing...?" For Shopify business owners facing this issue, did you know that about 70% of visitors leave with items still in their cart (cart abandonment)?

Especially from July to August, while the use of e-commerce increases due to summer gifts and preparations for Obon homecomings, cart abandonment tends to spike because of payment hassles and delivery concerns. Ignoring this "cart abandonment" issue and heading into the big autumn and year-end seasons is undoubtedly a significant missed opportunity.

When it comes to cart abandonment countermeasures, "cart abandonment emails" are standard, but actually, creating a mechanism to prevent drop-offs just before the payment from the cartis the key to dramatically increasing the conversion rate (CVR).

This article clearly explains four practical abandonment countermeasures you can implement immediately, from moving beyond one-time cart abandonment emails to Shopify-specific payment, shipping, and LINE utilization techniques!

Cart abandonment emails are a basic countermeasure for cart abandonment, but are you stopping at sending just one email? 

In fact, sending only one email has a high chance that users will overlook it or think "I'll buy later" and then forget about it.

What is recommended is setting up a "step mail" approach where you contact multiple times (2-3 times) with intervals in between.

Examples of effective delivery timings

• 1st time (3 hours after cart abandonment): 
  A simple reminder like "Did you forget to complete your purchase?" The key is to deliver it while the memory is still fresh.

• 2nd time (24 hours later): 
  Send it aiming for the time when the user is likely checking their smartphone at the same time as yesterday (a time when purchase intent tends to increase).

• 3rd time (3 to 7 days later): 
  Convey a sense of scarcity and urgency with messages like "Stock is running low" or "Your cart will be cleared in ○ days" to encourage action.

By using Shopify's official "Shopify Email" or various email marketing apps, you can set up automated delivery with just one configuration, so be sure to set up multiple steps.

Asking customers to repeatedly enter credit card information and addresses during the purchase process is a major cause of abandonment. Especially smartphone users dislike typing small text on the screen.

What we recommend introducing here are "Shop Pay" and "mobile payments (such as PayPay)".

① Shop Pay (Shopify's official fast checkout)

The biggest strength of Shop Pay is that "if a user has ever shopped at any Shopify store before, they won't need to enter information when visiting your store for the first time." 

By simply verifying your phone number (entering the SMS code), your saved credit card information and shipping address will be automatically filled in.

💡Key Point!
Shop Pay can be easily implemented without any additional contracts if "Shopify Payments" is enabled. This feature should definitely be turned on to reduce cart abandonment rates.

② Mobile Payments (such as PayPay)

In Japan, ID payments like "PayPay" are extremely popular. Since customers can pay using apps they are familiar with, the barrier to purchase is dramatically lowered.

⚠️Notes on Implementation
For smartphone payments like PayPay, it is necessary to link and contract with external payment services (payment gateways) such as "KOMOJU" or "SB Payment Service" separately from Shopify Payments.

Although some procedures are required, it provides a corresponding effect in preventing drop-offs.

"When will this product arrive?" "If I send it directly to the recipient's home, will they handle wrapping or gift tags?" Especially during gift or event seasons, users stop at checkout and abandon their carts due to such "concerns about delivery and gift support."

Here, we organize and explain the commonly (standard) used countermeasures.

Understand easily like a snack! Two standard countermeasures

① Introduction of "Delivery Date and Time Specification"

• Why is it necessary?： Users want their orders to arrive "by a certain date." If they cannot specify this, they may worry "it might not arrive on the day" and turn to another site.
  
  

• How to implement it?： Since detailed date and time specification is difficult with Shopify's standard features, it is standard to introduce a "Delivery Date and Time Specification App" (e.g., the 'Delivery Date and Time Specification' app). This allows customers to select their "desired date" and "desired time slot" from a calendar on the cart screen.

② Clearly state "Gift Options (Wrapping, Noshi, Message Card)"

• Why is it necessary?： Customers will abandon their carts if they reach the very end of checkout and find "No wrapping selection screen!"
  
  

• How to implement it:

  1. Selection function on the cart screen: Place checkboxes or input fields on the cart screen such as "Request gift wrapping (+300 yen)" and "Inscription (e.g., Congratulations)" (can be easily set up with dedicated apps or theme customization).

  2. Clear indication on the product page: Display an icon or banner stating "This product supports gift options" clearly on the product image or description section.

Clearly showing "When will it arrive?" and "Is gift wrapping available?"just before purchase confirmation (cart screen)provides great reassurance that helps prevent cart abandonment.

In Japan, "LINE" has a significantly higher open rate than email. Utilizing LINE, which is used daily, for cart abandonment measures is currently one of the most effective strategies.

Why are cart abandonment notifications via LINE effective?

Emails tend to get buried among other newsletters, but LINE push notifications are delivered directly to the smartphone screen.

• Notifications that hit during relaxing night time:  Messages like "You still have items in your cart" or "The stock of your favorite (liked) items is running low!" sent at night (around 8 PM to 10 PM) trigger users to open LINE and proceed to shop.
  
  

• High recovery rate from cart abandonment:  Sending a LINE notification saying "Did you forget to complete your purchase?" one to several hours after cart abandonment effectively reaches users who don't check emails.

By installing Shopify apps (e.g., 'CRM PLUS on LINE') and linking them with your official LINE account, you can easily set up such automated notification systems.

Cart abandonment countermeasures are the task of "sealing the holes in the funnel" that should be done before increasing customer acquisition (advertising costs).

　1. Set up multiple cart abandonment emails to be sent

　2. Turn on Shop Pay and introduce mobile payments (such as PayPay)

　3. Install a delivery date and time selection app and clearly indicate gift options on the cart screen

　4. Integrate with LINE to follow up through a channel that reliably reaches customers

If you start implementing these measures now at the end of July, you will build a foundation to significantly increase sales not only for the Obon and summer gift demand in August but also for autumn events and the year-end sales season.

First, please try the easy-to-set options like "Enabling Shop Pay" and "Changing the number of cart abandonment emails sent"!

If you have any concerns about Shopify operations or implementing measures, turn to "GO RIDE"!

"Not sure how to choose the right payment methods and apps for your company"
"Can't keep up with LINE integration and design customization..."

For merchants facing these challenges, GO RIDE offers the "Shopify Support Plan," providing hands-on assistance with Shopify operations.

Customers enrolled in the support plan receive comprehensive support, from introducing and proposing the latest improvement measures like those presented here to actual development and implementation.

If you want to "first discuss the challenges of your own store," please feel free to contact us!